Calgary Stampeders down Edmonton Eskimos 30-27

Edmonton Eskimos beat at the clock by Calgary Stampeders

Edmonton Eskimos JC Sherritt, centre, gets congratulated by Weldon Brown, left, and Damaso Munoz after Sherritt broke the record for most tackles in a season by bringing down Calgary Stampeders Matt Walter, not pictured, during second half CFL action at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta on Friday, November 2, 2012. The Eskimos lost 27-30. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI A

Edmonton Eskimos JC Sherritt, left, celebrates with Damaso Munoz after Sherritt broke the record for the most tackles in a season with a tackle on Calgary Stampeders Matt Walter during second half CFL action at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta on Friday, November 2, 2012. The Eskimos lost 27-30. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

Edmonton Eskimos T.J. Hill celebrates after JC Sherritt, front, tackled Calgary Stampeders Matt Walter, left, for the most tackles in a season during second half CFL action at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta on Friday, November 2, 2012. The Eskimos lost 27-30. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

Calgary Stampeders Joe West celebrates his touchdown as Edmonton Eskimos Pete Ittersagen leaves the field during first half CFL action at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta on Friday, November 2, 2012. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI A

Edmonton Eskimos JC Sherritt (behind) tackles Calgary Stampeders Matt Walter to break the record for the most tackles in a season as Damaso Munoz puts on pressure during second half CFL action at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta on Friday, November 2, 2012. The Eskimos lost 27-30. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY

With this tackle of Calgary's Matt Walter, Eskimos JC Sherritt breaks the all time CFL record for tackles in a season during the game at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta on Friday, November 2, 2012 PERRY NELSON - EDMONTON SUN / QMI AGENCY

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Rob Van(illa Ice) Winkle played the halftime show on Friday night, but with the Edmonton Eskimos punching their post-season ticket with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats loss the night before and the Caglary Stampeders already set to host next week’s semifinal, it might as well have been Rip Van Winkle as far as the standings are concerned.

Except the ending was nothing short of a waking nightmare for the Eskimos.

The used-to-be famous 1990s rapper was a fitting choice for the final halftime of the season, given both elements of his stage name came into effect in a 30-27 Eskimos loss, as the Stampeders swept the 2012 season series 4-0.

Amid a backdrop of Ice aplenty around Commonwealth Stadium, Friday’s game was anything but Vanilla, ending in true Battle-of-Alberta fashion and setting up even more drama with a cross-over against Ricky Ray’s Toronto Argonauts next Sunday.

“That’s who we face,” said Eskimos head coach Kavis Reed. “It’s just the way it worked.

“In an eight-team league, chances are you will meet someone again.”

Friday’s game ended with a bad snap on a 38-yard field goal attempt by Grant Shaw, who already handed Calgary two wins on missed last-play field goals this season.

Eskimos linebacker T.J. Hill made an interception on the following play, only to be negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty.

Stampeders slotback Joe West fumbled on the next play, getting the ball punched out by defensive halfback Weldon Brown, who returned it deep into Calgary territory in the final minute.

Except it was ruled incomplete upon review.

Rene Paredes missed a 44-yard field goal with no time left on the clock, only to get the second chance he needed due to an Eskimos time out.

“It’s convention. You don’t blame anyone,” Reed said. “Unfortunately, the communication was a little bit bad, because we wanted it before he could get the practice kick.

“They knew the time out was coming, so they tried to rush to get the practice kick.”

Calgary came in with the goal of helping league-leading running back Jon Cornish to the 50 yards he needed to eclipse Eskimos legend Normie Kwong’s Canadian single-season rushing record of 1,437 set in 1956.

He ended the night with 69 yards on 14 carries, while Eskimos middle linebacker J.C. Sherritt made 11 tackles to surpass Calvin Tiggle’s single-season record of 129.

“More than anything, it means a lot to do it for my defensive guys,” Sherritt said. “Those guys, they made it all possible.”

Edmonton rested starting quarterback Kerry Joseph to give back-up Matt Nichols his second start of the season, where he completed 18 of 30 for 341 yards an interception and two touchdowns.

Calgary, meanwhile, ran through the entire carousel of QBs with 304 passing yards, while Fred Stamps had a game-high 152 yards and a touchdown on six catches — a 45-yard reception that would have been an interception out of the hands of cornerback Jamar Wall, to set up a 40-yard field goal that tied the game 27-27 four minutes into the fourth quarter.